In a single moment, life as you know it can be entirely rearranged – turned upside down and inside out. One phone call, health scare, natural disaster, the burden of all that is uncontrollable presses against the mind and weighs on the soul. So, how can we move lightly through the unknown? We share the weight with one another and transform it into music. We hand it over to ‘Apollos,’ the Greek and Roman God of music and poetry.

After surviving two strokes and an aneurysm, musician Dani Meza will release his first full-length album for the group the crushedvelvets on October 19th. Following these life-altering medical experiences, Meza’s music is grounded in strength and a raw love of creation. The album offers a rich blend of groovy and versatile sounds, infused with deeply personal and evocative lyrics. 

“While writing this record I tried to achieve the tenderness and openness that artists like Minnie Riperton and Roberta Flack captured in their albums,” says Meza. “This album, the past EPs, and any future albums are all concepts. I’m trying to deliver moods and vulnerability.”

Dani Meza is a multi-instrumentalist from Southern California, known for his unique, soulful sound. His current project, the crushedvelvets, embodies his evolution as an artist. “I Planted, Apollos Watered, But God Kept Making It Grow,” is a harmonious blend of the group’s many influences from Al Green, Marvin Gaye, and Serge Gainsbourg. Yet, the smooth voice at the forefront of the music feels undeniably contemporary, transcending genre, blending past and present. 

The album features 10 tracks, including the single “At Ease,” which comes out October 1st. The song fuses mind and body, thinking and moving. It is crisp and alluring, with indie-rock melodies, reggae style drums, and lush jazz guitar. The song escalates, rising and falling in its range of intensity. 

To bring the record to life, Meza collaborated with an array of talent, including musician Ben Lumsdaine, percussionist Danny Frankel, keys player Carey Frank, and acclaimed producer Chris Schlarb. It was important to Meza for the visual component of the album to match the energy of the music. Los Angeles-based photographer Michael Hernandez captured Meza’s vision, drawing inspiration from 60’s French album covers. 

The album was mainly recorded from live sessions, allowing for moments of pure surprise and spontaneity. Meza says,“With this style of recording, the instrumentation and sound are captured in an intimate manner. You can hear breathing, you can feel the guitar getting strummed and the tremolo calmly guides you to the end of the song. We recorded this album live as much as possible to capture the most emotion out of each player. They were able to hear me singing and react to the words and mood of each song live. Think Fame, Motown and Stax sessions.”

To celebrate the release, the crushedvelvets will be hosting a special album release live performance on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at Little Street Music Hall in Meza’s hometown of Indio, California. “I Planted, Apollos Watered, But God Kept Making It Grow” will be available on all major streaming platforms and for purchase on Apple Music or via the crushedvelvets’ Bandcamp.